Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court directed the Yogi Adityanath government on Friday to start issuing fresh licences to meat shops and renew old ones in Uttar Pradesh, weeks after officials began shutting “illegal” slaughterhouses that sparked multiple strikes and crippled supplies.
Justice A.P. Shahi of the Court’s Lucknow Bench said that the state government cannot shy away from its responsibility of regulating slaughterhouses.
The order comes as relief for large sections of population as UP is the country’s biggest meat producer, and the Rs 15,000-crore industry employs 25 lakh people.
The order says even those whose slaughterhouses were shut can now apply for licences. The court sought a report from the government on July 17.
The order came after many establishments alleged that they were shut despite their applications for licence renewal pending with the government. UP has 38 legal slaughterhouses. There are about 10,000 illegal slaughterhouses across UP that cater to domestic demand for goat and buffalo meat. Mr Adityanath imposed a ban on all “illegal” slaughterhouses after assuming office in March.
